Displaying items by tag: tesla

Tesla cut prices several times last year to stay competitive in the market, and that tactic paid off.

In 2023, Tesla recorded a 40% increase in sales, i.e. it had a total of 1.8 million units sold, and the total revenue is 19% higher compared to the previous year, CEO Elon Musk said.

He stated that revenues slowed down towards the end of the year, but also that significantly weaker growth is expected in 2024.

As Musk stated, Chinese brands represent a serious challenge. He warned that if market restrictions are not introduced, "Chinese competition can destroy most car companies", as reported by CNN.

In support of Musk's call for market restrictions is the fact that BYD overtook Tesla in terms of sales in the fourth quarter, so it is no wonder that the billionaire reacts this way.

Additionally, it's not just Tesla that is lowering prices to stay competitive, Chinese manufacturers are also doing it, so it's up to European brands to see how they can stay relevant in the battle for customers.

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Saturday, 24 December 2022 05:09

Tesla and Lexus – the safest cars

Car safety has largely been an area where Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have ruled.

The German Auto Club (ADAC) analyzed the statistics from Euro NCAP crash tests and active safety system tests and concluded that the situation is changing dramatically.

- In 2022, Mercedes and Volvo will not share the winning podium for the safest cars, but two models from Tesla and Lexus - it was announced.

Tesla's strategy of collecting a large amount of real accident data appears to be working. It is not only the transition to electromobility and the onslaught of new brands that is currently putting pressure on established premium manufacturers, but also the high adaptability of the competition when it comes to safety. This applies especially to the newcomers from China, who probably learned from earlier mistakes, made a big step forward, and now some have deservedly found themselves among the top ten, HAK Review points out.

Mercedes is still represented on the list of the best, while e.g. BMW failed to make the top ten with the 2 Series Coupe. That's why there is the Chinese Way Coffee 01, and the Chinese-Mercedes co-production Samrt #3. In eighth place is another Chinese car, the Nio ET7.

These are the ten best crash test models according to the Euro NCAP standard, which were tested this year:

Car model Body type Rating

1. Tesla Model S hatchback 92.4 percent
2. Tesla Model Y SUV 92.2 percent
3. Lexus RX SUV 89.4 percent
4. Mercedes EQE notchback 89.0 percent
5. Wey Coffee 01 SUV 88.4 percent
6. Wey Coffee 02 SUV 88.2 percent
7. Smart #1 SUV 88.0 percent
8. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Notchback, wagon 87.4 percent
8. Hyundai Ioniq 6 hatchback 87.4 percent
8. Nio ET7 notchback 87.4 percent

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The sales margins enjoyed by the American electric car manufacturer Tesla are just a dream for traditional manufacturers. Tesla as a company started slowly, but for years it has been proving that it is possible to profit from electric vehicles.

The best example of Tesla's sales margins is their comparison with one of the world's largest car manufacturers - the Japanese Toyota. According to the latest financial results, Tesla earns as much as eight times more per car sold than the Japanese icon of the automotive industry.

Toyota has been at the top in terms of the number of cars sold for decades, and it can definitely be said that the Japanese company has the knowledge and skill to create successful products that bring profit. What's more, while Toyota hasn't turned to all-electric cars as quickly as many manufacturers, most of their lineup is hybrid-powered, and some of them are available as plug-in hybrids.

On the other hand, Tesla still produces only four electric models (5 if the Semi truck is also counted). That's why it's interesting how Tesla earns eight times more per car sold than Toyota. Although the math is not that precise, the fact that Tesla makes much more per unit cannot be disputed.

During the third quarter of this year, the American company reported $3.29 billion in profit, while Toyota's profit for the same period was $3.15 billion. During those three months, Toyota delivered eight times more vehicles to customers than Tesla globally.

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Monday, 07 November 2022 14:18

Known when Tesla starts producing the Cybertruck

The repeatedly delayed start of production has made this vehicle something of a myth among fans of electric vehicles.

Tesla plans to start mass production of the Cybertruck electric truck at the end of 2023, Reuters has learned. The Cybertruck was first unveiled in 2019, and production was originally slated to begin in late 2021.

The repeatedly delayed start of production has made this vehicle something of a myth among fans of electric vehicles, because many raised their hands more than the pickup will ever see serial production, writes RTS.

Despite the fact that the price of the final version of the vehicle is still unknown, nor are its exact features known, hundreds of thousands of potential buyers have already paid $100 to reserve their Cybertruck.

Three years ago, the initial price was supposed to be under $40,000, but Tesla has since raised the prices of all its models. The exact number of reserved vehicles is not known, but if CEO Elon Musk is to be believed, the company "received more orders for the pickup truck than it can fill in the first three years of production."

In line with that claim is the fact that Tesla stopped accepting orders outside the US in May.

A month ago, Tesla announced that it was preparing its factory in Austin, Texas, for the start of the new model. Musk said in a conference call with financial analysts that "early production" of the electric pickup truck is scheduled for mid-2023.

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Tuesday, 11 October 2022 04:57

The Tesla truck is coming

Tesla's electric semi truck has been delayed for a long time, and now the company's founder and CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that production has begun.

When Tesla introduced the Semi truck in 2017, production was expected to begin by 2019, but that didn't happen.

Musk then sent an email to employees at the beginning of 2020 in which he stated that the truck is already in limited production and that "it's time to invest everything in order to start mass production." In April of that year, it was announced from Tesla that truck deliveries are being postponed again until 2021.

However, 2021 was not the year of the semi truck either. Shareholders were informed that deliveries were being pushed back to 2022 due to global supply chain issues affecting the tech and auto industries, as well as limited production capacity related to truck batteries at the time.

However, it seems that the wait has finally come to an end as Musk confirmed via Twitter that the first delivery of the Semi truck is expected on December 1st. The trucks will be delivered to Pepsi, which ordered 100 units in December 2017.

Other big companies like Walmart and UPS have also ordered the semi.

In May of this year, the Tesla company began accepting orders from customers with a $20,000 deposit. The semi costs between 150,000 and 180,000 dollars, and the range is up to 800 kilometers.

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For some, stock has never been enough. Decades of hot rodders, drifters, lowriders, track rats, and every niche in between have forged rich and enduring cultures centered around modifying automobiles. But as the inevitable era of electrification approaches, there are those who believe we're facing an existential threat to the future of automotive enthusiasm itself.

 We have to admit, we're a bit spooked ourselves. But after a day of hitting apexes and traveling at triple-digit speeds behind the wheel of a track-prepped Tesla Model 3—the Unplugged Performance Ascension R—we're feeling a lot better about what those who love to drive and tune their cars can expect as the EV revolution gradually takes hold.

 

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Old Tuners, New Tricks

We got our chance to hustle the Ascension R at California's Buttonwillow Raceway during a Tesla Corsa track day organized by Unplugged Performance. Tesla Corsa is a Tesla-exclusive series that, according to Unplugged co-founder Ben Schaffer, "creates the lowest barrier of entry for anyone with a Tesla to experience their car on-track."

 The team behind Unplugged Performance isn't new to the modification game. Schaffer started importing Japanese car tuning parts back in 2000. "In those early stages I was trying to pay to go to the track, so I sold parts to do that, and I turned my hobby into a business," he said. That business is Bulletproof Automotive, which offers a range of components for tuner favorites like the Nissan GT-R, Subaru WRX, and Toyota 86.

 At Bulletproof Automotive, "We built a customer base of people who would go to the track and drive on the street with tuned Japanese cars," Schaffer said. At Unplugged Performance, the cars are different, but the thinking isn't: It creates Teslas that are competition-ready yet retain real-world appeal. Unplugged rose out of what Schaffer noticed was an aftermarket void for Teslas that he aimed to help fill. "In hindsight it all makes sense," Schaffer said. "What we're doing now advocating for EV tuning—especially back when there wasn't anyone advocating for it besides us—is similar to what I was doing 20 years ago with Japanese cars." In 2014, Unplugged's Tesla Model S became the first-ever Tesla displayed at the SEMA Show.

Enthusiasm motivates Schaffer: "There's joy in sharing something that you love. Building community around shared passions is my passion. With how divided the world has become, the things that connect us are even more special." Indeed, EVs have been a source of schism among car fans. But as the Ascension R shows, they're also a place where they can align their interests around something that's awesome to drive.

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Like A Rocket: The Unplugged Performance Ascension R Model 3

At this point, it should be no surprise that Teslas are more than just electrified stoplight dragsters. As a finalist in our 2018 and 2020 Car of the Year contests, we praised the Model 3's "laserlike handling" and called it "the best sport sedan on the market." And it's still damn quick—in Dual Motor Performance specification, the Model 3's 450-hp, 471-lb-ft powertrain launches it to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

Improving on greatness is a challenge that Unplugged Performance welcomes. "Stock Model 3s are amazingly capable and only get better when you modify them," Schaffer said. Named in tribute to SpaceX, Tesla's cousin company and Unplugged Performance's neighbor in Los Angeles, the Ascension R has been extensively built and tuned to perform on a track. Yet daily drivability remains a focus.

Basic aerodynamic tenets vex range-sensitive EVs—more downforce equals more drag equals less miles to a charge. Thus, the Ascension R's body kit is intended to be as functional as it is aesthetic. "What matters for a car like this is not just making downforce, but making clean downforce," Schaffer said. Working with aerodynamicists and computational fluid dynamics, Unplugged Performance has increased the car's downforce with minimal drag penalty. Straight-line acceleration and efficiency remain within 1 percent of a stock Model 3. Among the Ascension R's carbon-fiber body parts is a front splitter crafted by Koenigsegg. The distinctive bumpers have also been engineered around the precisely calibrated sensors that enable Tesla's driver assist capabilities.

 
Rolling stock is another area that can significantly impact an EV's range, and the Ascension R's wide and sticky Yokohama Advan A052 tires certainly weren't chosen for efficiency. Eddy Castelan, Unplugged Performance's motorsports manager, said it's common for Tesla Corsa attendees to drive to and from the event on street wheels and tires, with a track set inside the car. Once they're bolted on, "the only two things to worry about are your charge level and tire pressure—super simple," Castelan said.

In one of our earlier Model 3 track experiences, Tesla saw fit to equip the car with track brake pads. Unplugged Performance goes further by swapping the front brake setup for 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors bitten by six-piston calipers, along with track-focused pads on the stock rear iron rotors. Given those changes to the friction braking system, the Ascension R can decelerate strongly without reliance on the car's regenerative braking. Because regen pushes heat into the powertrain, Schaffer said many Tesla Corsa drivers prefer running without it so the battery stays cooler over a session. A cooler battery delivers more consistent power. The team also chose brake pads that don't require high heat to function, preserving the Ascension R's ease of use in the real world, where a driver might want regen.

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More than anything, the Ascension R's speed comes from its chassis changes. "Suspension tuning is everything for the car, and it's a very heavy car," Castelan said. Once a Model 3 receives parts like the company's billet control arms, adjustable anti-roll bars, external reservoir coil-overs, and forged aluminum wheels, fine-tuning can begin. Castelan's job: "All I do is figure out how to make these cars faster without adding power."

That's right—no additional power. Unplugged Performance doesn't change the powertrain, not because of technical impossibility but because it prefers to leave areas that might be affected by software updates untouched. And really, Tesla's powertrain is impressive enough as is. The Model 3 Performance's Track mode allows for variable torque split between its two motors, anything from 100 percent in front to 100 percent out back—all adjustable in real time, even in between corners. Castelan collaborates with Unplugged Performance's roster of pro drivers, which includes MotorTrend friend and Tesla pilot Randy Pobst, to set profiles for different chassis setups or tracks that are stored and selected through the touchscreen.

Still—all this work and not a single extra pony? Scoff if you want, but the results prove that power isn't everything. "I remember coming to Buttonwillow at the beginning when we were excited about breaking a two-minute lap—and now we're touching 1:50," Castelan said. Indeed, with development driver Craig Coker at the wheel, the Ascension R set a 1:50.35 lap record around the track's clockwise 13-turn configuration. A 991-generation Porsche GT3 RS? 1:50.40. We held that context in our helmet as we buckled up for session one.

On Track In The World's Fastest Model 3

Rolling from the garage toward the staging area, we watched other cars render on the Tesla's touchscreen, confirming that Unplugged Performance had situated those sensors accurately in the bumper. On Coker's recommendation, we set up for the initial session in Track mode with the torque split and stability control in their neutral positions and light regen. Then the marshal signaled—go time.

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Feeling a powerful electric car's crushing acceleration absent an engine note remains surreal. Without turbos to spool, a redline to reach, or shifts to ace (or botch), driving the Ascension R was highly intuitive, letting our focus sharpen on how much we could floor it at any given moment. There's superb linearity to the accelerator pedal, with every input backed by direct, instantaneous response. Power trailed off as three-digit speeds ticked onto the display, but at anything below that, the car leapt out of corners and across shorter straights.

The laserlike handling we lauded previously seemed enhanced by Unplugged Performance's chassis work. The Ascension R rode planted and smooth, absorbing Buttonwillow's cracked, undulating pavement and apex curbs. Free of a heavy engine between its front wheels, there felt like near zero latency from steering wheel motions to where the nose pointed—agile and eager yet determined and free of understeer.

Slowing for Turn 1 and Turn 12, each at the end of Buttonwillow's longest straights, was well within grasp for the 4,000-odd-pound Ascension R's upgraded brakes. They clamped assertively with great feel, letting us back off precisely before tossing the car in. For trundling around the paddock  and on turns that needed just a dab, more reactivity from the heavy pedal would have helped. Still, even light regen allowed some control of speed by modulating the accelerator, and we detected no fade at any point.

Four-lap session complete, we returned to the garage—having drained about 30 miles of range in just over 10 miles of driving. Tesla Corsa events are held at tracks selected for charging convenience, and they're structured to ensure ample time between sessions; the closest Supercharger to Buttonwillow Raceway is about 10 miles south on California's I-5 highway. During downtime, we saw drivers juicing up at 50-amp outlets in the track's garages and RV sites. Schaffer dismissed that recharging hinders the viability of an EV track day: "It's one of these things where if you extrapolate outward, eventually concerns about it go away as infrastructure builds up." To that point, installation of Buttonwillow Raceway's onsite Supercharger station is underway.

As we suited up for our second session, Coker encouraged us to play with Track mode settings to send more torque to the rear and relax the nannies. Back on track, the Ascension R immediately showed a different character. It now wanted to oversteer, powering around with newfound friskiness. With less stability intervention we detected some of the rear-end gyrations we'd felt in prior Model 3 drives, especially as cambers flattened out. Those were of little consequence. Altering Track mode settings corner to corner added fresh layers of involvement. Even as the battery seemed to wane just slightly in the final stretches of the last lap, we would have loved more time to explore this real-time tuning—like one of Coker's profiles, simply labeled "Drift."

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A Thrilling Future For Tuners

With the Ascension R, Unplugged Performance transformed the Model 3 from a zippy luxury sedan into a track-attacking machine. That's evidenced not only by our experience behind the wheel but also by the world-rivaling lap times it can post in the hands of a pro. Although we noticed minor Tesla-esque quality issues in Ascension R's cabin, those were forgivable for the thrill it delivered, and it's still opulent in comparison to typically stripped-out racetrack specials.

Besides speed, new father Schaffer finds substance in EV tuning. "It's another level of meaning of life and work where we're not only doing fun stuff because it's fun but because it's important, as well," he said. "Once we realized that racing a Tesla is moving car culture toward a sustainable place, we could never go back. So it's only EVs for us because we get to enjoy our hobby in a way that's good for the future." That won't limit his team from making the fastest electric car they can make. Unplugged Performance is developing a Model 3 at Germany's Nürburgring to prepare future projects for the world's most demanding tracks.

Modification enthusiasts should lose concerns that electrification might stifle their possibilities. Whether their dream build rides sky high or slammed to the ground, motivation is the only thing that will stop them from achieving it—and we're not referring to what's under the hood.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/unplugged-performance-tesla-model-3-track-drive-review/

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Thursday, 23 September 2021 06:53

Tesla is getting cheaper, but on petrol

The Austrian company Obrist is preparing the conversion of Tesla into petrol-electric vehicles. According to them, a suitable production vehicle would cost approximately as much as a conventional petrol model.

The Austrian company Obrist has announced an interesting project with its zero vibration generator (ZVG). It is a petrol engine built into Tesla's Model 3 to be, say the Austrians, more environmentally friendly. Despite the drastically reduced battery, the Model 3 has a long range and, according to the constructors, remains climate neutral even though it uses an internal combustion engine.

Basically, it's a serial hybrid drive. The drive is provided by a rear electric motor of 100 kW / 136 hp, which draws power from a reduced battery of 17.3 kWh. This is significantly less than the 52 kWh or 82 kWh batteries used by Tesla. A closed single-liter two-cylinder petrol engine was installed in front. It is not physically connected to the drive, but starts the generator, which in turn charges the electric drive with electricity, writes the magazine HAK.

The two-cylinder engine is maximally insulated. At the rear of the Tesla is a 30-liter fuel tank. It is enough for long trips, because the fuel consumption should be between 2.5 and 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

In addition to the 40 kW gasoline engine, Obrist has also developed a 45 kW equivalent for e-fuels such as methanol. Eco fuel for the new variant could be obtained from climate-neutral hydrogen, which would also have a neutral carbon footprint. In principle, a hybrid propulsion system should even meet the limits of the upcoming Euro 7 emission standard.

According to Obrist, a suitable production vehicle would have a much lower weight than an electric Tesla, so it would cost about as much as a conventional petrol model, due to reduced batteries and costs. Obrist announces its variant from 2025.

 

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Tesla is opening its doors to visitors living near their new factory in Germany. This factory, which will produce models of the American company for the European market, was often on the front pages of the media, especially due to problems related to environmental protection.

The construction of the gigafactory worth 5.8 billion euros has been under the watchful eye of the German public since the very beginning of construction, and now Tesla CEO Elon Musk has invited everyone interested to visit the factory, which is expected to start working next month.

The construction of the factory is delayed, primarily due to the appeal of the German public that it will have a bad impact on the environment. Elon Musk visited Germany in August, where he talked with the leaders of the state about these problems, and confirmation from the province of Brandenburg that this Tesla plant is in compliance with environmental regulations is still pending. However, Elon Musk on Twitter invited all interested citizens of Brandenburg and Berlin to visit the factory on October 9 and see for themselves its quality.

Visitors will be able to enter the factory, but also to try out the Tesla Model Y, and food trucks have been announced that will complete this "fair". A big visit is expected, so Tesla recommended everyone to use public transport to get to the factory. All visitors must meet at least one of the 3 conditions (vaccinated, tested, or laid down Covid-19).

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Tuesday, 21 September 2021 09:37

Edmunds: "Tesla Model S Plaid is a waste of money"

Sometimes our critics of Tesla and Ilona Maska "bit" the fans of this, now we can say "cult" brand, but we should keep in mind that there is no perfection in the automotive industry, and under the magnifying glass should be additionally newspapers of change, because we all want that the future be shaped properly.

Of course, it is not right to launch so-called autonomous driving software in beta and leave it to the public to engage in testing on public roads. It is clear that a company can always hide behind a disclaimer, so it practically has immunity from any legal repercussions if something goes wrong. As a rule, the blame shifts to the driver, but isn't that cynical, even by corporate standards?

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Friday, 03 September 2021 09:26

The Tesla Roadster will not arrive until 2023

Another delay in the start of production of this electric supercar.

Tesla is going through a long and arduous path of further portfolio development and increased production. Priority has been given to the assembly of the Model 3 and Model Y. The latter, according to the calculations of the American brand, should be one of the most popular cars on the planet.

But in order to achieve such goals, something had to be offered as a sacrifice to the "gods of the market." Tesla has already confirmed that there has been a new postponement of projects that are not crucial - like Semi and Cybertruck.

Now new information - the Roadster will not be in production before 2023. “This has been a crazy year regarding the lack of parts. If we had planned 17 new models for this year, none would have come out, ”Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.

He added that assuming that next year will not be so difficult, it can be expected that the production of Roadster, ie the second generation of that vehicle, will start in 2023.

Let us remind you, the Roadster was supposed to be on the scene in 2020. Then it was moved to 2021, then to 2022, and now there is talk of 2023. It may not be even then, especially since it is announced that the crisis with the shortage of semiconductors will continue during the next year.

By the way, the Tesla Roadster was presented in the concept edition in 2017, which means that in the best case, an incredible six years will pass before the serial variant! Then Elon Musk made a series of promises regarding the performance of this vehicle - that the acceleration of 100 km / h will take place in less than 2 seconds, as well as that the maximum speed will be higher than 400 km / h. The billionaire then announced that the Roadster would be the fastest production car in the world.

Musk also said at the Roadster premiere that the first 1,000 units will carry the Founders Edition label and will cost $ 250,000, while standard copies of the battery-powered supercar will be priced at 200,000 greenbacks.

But in six years, a lot can change, including the price of a car.

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